• Visit Kimberly's site to learn more about her Thoughtful Spaces and Meaningful Design.

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• Visit my Coaching page to learn more about creating a Lifestyle Reset.

• Both types of thinking produce results.
• Both can work for you.
• Yet, both can work against you. 

WHATEVER YOU'RE THINKING (OR SAYING) - YOUR BODY BELIEVES.

It's kind of amazing really.  Knowing this though, we need to use this "power" for good.  But how do we do that?

First - if we notice a thought that is not serving us - we need to take that thought captive.  That means stopping yourself as soon as you think or say it.  (This requires practice - but you can do it!).
THEN swap out this thought by speaking truth and positivity.  Here are two ways to do that:

1. How would you encourage a friend in this situation - what good thing would you tell her?  Be your own best friend and speak to yourself with love and compassion.
2. Look to God's word - what does HE say about you/your situation?  He does not lie.  He loves you - You are precious - You belong to Him - You were wonderfully made - He has good plans for your life.  Whatever area you're struggling with, look for truth in scripture and let that be your new thought. 

...WE TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT TO MAKE IT OBEDIENT TO CHRIST. 2 CORINTHIANS 10:5

What Was "My False Thought"
I continued to tell myself (first subconsciously and then consciously) that if I'm being led by God to do something, then it shouldn't be hard.  If God has a plan for me, then it shouldn't be such a challenge or a struggle... it shouldn't be so much work!  It should come easy, shouldn't it?!  (Have you ever thought like that before?!)

But Hebrews 10:36 tells us:
YOU HAVE A NEED OF STEADFAST PATIENCE AND ENDURANCE, SO THAT YOU MAY PERFORM AND FULLY ACCOMPLISH THE WILL OF GOD, AND THUS RECEIVE AND CARRY AWAY WHAT IS PROMISED.

Did you catch that?!  When we are working to accomplish the will of God - we need to have patience and endurance!  If it is supposed to be easy, we'd have no need for such things, would we?
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So, my original thought - I had to take it captive and replace it with the TRUTH.  Not my feelings or ideas or perceptions - but with God's word.

• And friend, I tell ya, it shifts everything!

I've not fully "arrived" at reframing this false belief all of the time, but it's a start.  The more I remind my mind and my body that it's ok to be challenged while doing good work - the more I move forward with assuredness and endurance.

WHAT'S THE FALSE BELIEF YOU'RE CARRYING AROUND THAT IS NOT SERVING YOU?
Follow those steps I provided to capture and reframe it.
And if you'd like some help uncovering a subconscious thought pattern or letting go of a conscious one, then I'd love to help.
One on one coaching allows for the space to safely explore your beliefs while providing the guidance to overcome them.
Whether it's one Support Session, a Mini Reset or a full 90 Day Transformation​ we will:

• Uncover what's been stopping you, slowing you down, or keeping you from living a fulfilling and intentional life AND
• Discover the small changes you can make to receive God-focused and Spirit-led transformation...
• So you can feel better across all areas of your life.

​​I believe in YOU and the power of CHANGE!

In the past 8 years I have grown in the knowledge, and therefore in the confidence of the application and power of holistic medicine.  We have handled everything from the common cold, to long haul COVID, to anxiety & nervous system issues, to stomach ailments, UTI’s, ear aches, nerve pain, scrapes, bumps & bruises, bursitis, peri-menopause - and surely all kinds of other things in that time.

This is where I need to insert the disclaimer that I am not a medical doctor of any kind, nor is this medical advice - I am simply sharing what I have learned to be effective for myself and my family.  ;-)

When I say that I have used “Natural Medicine” what does that mean?
It means herbal medicine - using plants and their extracts.  It also means nutritional therapy - modifying diet and using supplements.  And even essential oils and also using homeopathic medicine.

And the term “Holistic Wellness” is really considering the interconnectedness of all aspects of a person’s life - physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and sometimes even the social aspect.  This is what I wholeheartedly believe in not just for my family, but in my coaching practice as well.

Let's get into the WHY and HOW...

Why choose a natural / traditional approach over conventional?
It doesn't take long looking at the detriment of Big Pharma and the Healthcare Industry to see how their structure, plan and service is neither working for us and is most of the times functioning against us.  The concept of a Pill for an Ill is the driving force in medicine today - and it does not have our best interests at heart.

Sadly our current system looks at the actual symptoms of most issues and calls them the problems.  Saying things like high-blood pressure, inflammation, diabetes, etc are what need to be treated... when in fact they are just the symptoms of something deeper.  They never get to the true root.  To add further insult to injury not only are they treating the symptoms - the drugs that they are using very often have side effects causing more issues - resulting in, you guessed it, more drugs being prescribed.  It’s literally a nightmare.

BUT the goods news is - you can opt out!  You can find your way out of that crazy cycle and into a safer, softer place.  A place that pre-dates our current medical system… and I may dare to say a lot of it goes back to the beginning of time.  We have to pause and give realization to the fact that God created herbs, flowers, minerals, and animals - all of which we can use for maintaining health and for healing illness.

With that you may be wondering HOW to step into natural wellness & healing.  I would love to teach you about these things and how you can begin using them.  I will give the caveat that I do believe there is a time & place for conventional doctors & medicine… but most of the things we deal with (as I mentioned earlier) I believe we can handle easily and naturally (with herbs, oils, tinctures, teas, homeopathic remedies, etc).  We also do this in a way that nourishes and heals, not cover and suppress.

Join me on February 21 for Natural Wellness 101.  An in person Gathering in my home in Southern Lancaster County.  You can find details & registration HERE.  And if you're not local and this appeals to you, please send me an email and I'll let you know when I have this recorded as an on-line option!
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Let's start with the basic steps of organizing (cliff notes version) and then I'll give you some mindset shifts to get you through the decluttering process:

BASIC STEPS OF ORGANIZING

​Evaluate:  What is at the heart of the mess?  ie. lack of storage, ineffective systems, too much stuff, and/or missing routines

Declutter:  This is the LETTING GO part.  Pull it all out, and determine if it's trash/recycle, donation/giveaway, a maybe (which I encourage you to set a timeline for making a firm decision on those things), or an absolute love/need/keep.  You can have a box/bin/bag for each category clearly marked.  (See below for the questions I would ask clients to help them through this when it became challenging.)

Organize:  This means grouping like things together in the most efficient place possible.  I encourage you to consider if where you currently have something is the most efficient place… don’t just put the thing back where it was because it’s always been there.   Everything in your home should have a home.  THIS is just another way to save time.

Containerize:  This is the fun part (for most people anyway) and the step that usually comes to mind when you hear organizing - it’s containerizing.  Once you have decluttered, decided on a home for everything, then it’s time to determine if there is some kind of container, shelf, labeling system, folder, basket, bin and so on that would make that space function better.  Always shop your home first!!

Systemize:  The almost final step is to systemize in any way possible.  This means simply to create a routine on how to keep your “set up” working.  You need to ask yourself, “how can I design a routine around this so I don’t waste my hard work?!”

Maintain:  If it’s worth having it’s worth maintaining, right?  Especially after you’ve spent time going through this whole process.  I always said that getting organized & staying organized were 2 different things… so here are my 5 keys to maintaining your organization:
  1. Effective System
  2. Self-Accountability & Discipline
  3. Family Participation
  4. Ask for Help
  5. Be Open to Change

There is no shortage of inspiration - you can find it everywhere online… there is only lack of action.  You can duplicate the things that speak to you - but you have to do the work.

The world stole Christmas, not the Grinch.  I realized just how deeply this is true while I prepared for a prior Gathering Place on holidays vs Holy days.  Friends, we have been so misled and it disheartens me to realize it.

From Christmas trees to Santa Claus & Elf on the Shelf... from the timing of Christmas to exorbitant gift-giving... from commercialism to paganism - there are sadly so many off-putting roots to a day that is supposed to be dedicated to our Savior, and it seems no one even realizes it.  I surely didn't.

The ultimate question all of my research made me ask is:  How are we following scripture in any of this?  After all, isn't that what we're called to do?

​You can see how this year became a struggle in anticipation of lifelong traditions set against new found historical and Biblical knowledge.  Ugh... like a gut punch.  It's not easy to simply do a 180*...
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Change is hard enough when you're doing it alone... but when this involves your entire family (immediate and otherwise) let's say it takes this challenge to an entirely new level.  Here's the thing I've found in God's leading - He's not leading all of us at the same pace.  You may be ahead of your husband in his walk, and doing your best to teach your kids... or you may be struggling to keep up with your spouse's hair-on-fire disposition because God just hasn't taken you to that place yet.  Either way, it's hard.  Not impossible though - because we follow a God who can do all things (even ones we can't fathom on our own).

This Christmas (and I can only imagine for some more to come) I will be slowly cutting back the worldly ways.  I'm not coming at this in a loud overt way, nor from a place of judgement... but from a deep belief and through God's quiet leading.

• One small & simple tree where once every room was adorned (perhaps one day there will be none at all - gasp, I know).
• A new children's nativity set where pieces are added every few days in place of a judgmental & sneaky elf.
• No trips to see Santa (if I can help it), but instead conversation that goes deeper about the faith of Mary and the impact of Jesus's birth.
• Giving more presents that point to faith (like worship CD's - yep, we're old school) and less "stuff" for the sake of filling up empty space under the tree.

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Slowly as the truth unfolds, my family grows in their understanding, and most importantly as God opens their eyes to the world's ways - our Christmas will reflect more & more of the light, love and Word of God... and less of the darkness we've dressed up as a 'holiday'.

Side Note:  I will be offering a recording of that Gathering Place in the future - so if you're interested to learn all that I have to share, please send me an email and I'll put you on the list to notify when it's available.

Here goes... every month, at The Gathering Place, I have the habit of making a brand-new-to-me-never-tried-before-recipe.  Each time I remind myself that this may not end well and then what will I do?  But each month I get pulled into another yummy sounding newly Pinterest found dish, and there I go whipping it up just before guests arrive.  Do you do this too, or is it just me?  I was always taught to never try a new recipe the day you really need it... but alas, I may never learn.

Here is one of the recipes I made (with a side of warm artisan bread fresh out of the oven) - and it turned out surprisingly well.  It was a hit, and a healthy one at that:  DAIRY FREE SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP.  If you're looking for an appetizer for the upcoming holidays you should try it out!

When not trying new recipes I tend to be a "throw it together" kind of cook... and in the picture above that's just what I did.  If you want a sweet & slightly salty autumn flavored dish try this:

• sauté raw pecans in a bit of butter,
• give a healthy shake of both cinnamon & nutmeg,
• add a few dashes of Himalayan sea salt,
• and finish with a drizzle of pure maple syrup.
• Enjoy them warm straight out of the skillet!

Now... what shall I make for the next Gathering Place???

🕯️ Toss Scented Candles

• Choose Pure Beeswax Candles & Essential Oils in a diffuser (I love Young Loving and Aromatics International brands)

💄Swap Beauty & Body Products

• ​Currently I’m loving Piper Blue organic makeup.
• I love tallow balm in lieu of face & body lotion.
• Use essential oils in place of perfume / body sprays.
• For hair & body try the brands Attitude, Honest Beauty or Native

🍳Ditch Teflon Pans

• Use Cast Iron or Stainless Steel

🧼 Change Cleaning Products

• DIY your products (think baking soda, vinegar, essential oils) and I LOVE Thieves cleaner from Young Living.

🥤 Recycle Plasticware

• Choose Glass - for storage, drinking & reheating (like Anchor or Pyrex & Mason jars)

🍕 Avoid Processed Food

• As much as possible consume whole foods - meaning REAL food as close to God has created it.  😉 And become ‘friendly’ with home cookin’!!

☕️ Greatly Reduce or Eliminate Caffeine

• Learn to Love Herbal Tea
  
  • My fave is either homegrown herbs & flowers lightly steeped in local raw honey (or herbs bought at local Amish stores).  In a pinch find them at Mountain Rose Herbs, a source I trust and have used for years.
    
  • ALSO - I drink a ‘tizzy’ every morning to detox & get a boost of B Vitamins upon waking... after 20 years of waking up to a coffee this tea has me hooked and I haven't looked back!

After 30+ hours of preparing for this past weekend's Gathering Place focused on Holidays vs Holy Days I learned SO much.  I took a deep dive into Biblical, Historical and Traditional truths (not only regarding Halloween, but Christmas, Easter, the 7 Festivals and more).

I read, researched, took notes, cross-referenced facts, and wrote at length to organize all of information.

It was eye-opening at best and it hurt my heart at worst.  In the tiniest nutshell I can summarize:  the facts are so clear on the Pagan, Wiccan and Satanic history of this day and how the Roman Church tried to tie their own worship of saints (which we don't do as Christians today) to this pagan day - in their attempt at making the transition to Christianity smoother for the local populations.  (Trust me friends, there is SO MUCH MORE to this than you realize - unless you've gone deep into the research too.)

Side Note:  I will be offering a recording of that Gathering Place in the future - so if you're interested to learn all that I have to share, please send me an email and I'll put you on the list to notify when it's available.